Portable and collapsible shipping container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible rectangular shipping container having two opposed horizontally-hinged sidewalls which can be collapsed or folded inwardly and downwardly to allow the top and bottom walls to sandwich together and having folding ends which fold over to cover the collapsed structure.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,955 2/1907 Morgan [72] Inventor Robert S. Dougherty P.O. Box 68, Ross, Calif. 94957 [21] Appl. No. 782,060

77X www 22 l 2 1,488,418 3/1924 Walther....

2,797,524 7/1957 Nelson 2,972,430 2/1961 Johnson 3,403,806 10/1968 Pohl 1,230,831 6/1917 Primary Examiner-Raphael H. Schwartz Attorney-Naylor & Neal [22] Filed Dec.9,l968 [45] Patented Mar. 16,1971

[54} PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CONTAINER 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A collapsible rectangular shipping container having two opposed horizontal! be collapsed or folded inward] [51] Int. 865d 7/24,

y-hinged sidewalls which can B65j 1/02 y and downwardly to allow the 220/1.5, 6, top and bottom walls to sandwich together and having folding 7; 217/15, 47 ends which fold over to cover the col [50] Field lapsed structure.

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ATTOKNEVS ROBf/U 5. Mum/Herr PATENTED m1 6 |97l SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. mm s. val/emery BY M mi ATTOKNEVS PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to freight containers. Specifically, the invention is a collapsible freight container of the type suited for containerized packaging of freight.

The prior art has taught the use of containers in which cargo is packaged prior to stowing in the holds of a ship or prior to shipment by other means. The use of such containers has facilitated automated loading of a vessel with a corresponding savings in unproductive loading time. Moreover, pilferage has thus been reduced a substantial degree.

Empty, or light, containers require as much space to store as those fully loaded and this results in economic loss when such light containers are to be transported.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a collapsible container having four sides, a top and bottom. Two opposing sides are articulated at the top, middle and bottom to allow each to fold inward to bring the top and bottom walls of the container together as the articulated sides are collapsed accordion fashion. The two opposing sides adjacent the articulated sides comprise folding, rigid end walls which maintain the container in its upright condition by means of interlocking members around their edges. When the container is to be collapsed, these interlocking members. are disengaged, the articulated sides are collapsed, and the end walls fold over the top of the partially collapsed structure.

The present invention minimizes the space required for light containers by providing a strong structure which can be collapsed to a size occupying but a fraction of its upright volume. Specifically, the structure is designed to collapse into an area substantially equal to its largest wall and to a height approximately equal to the combined thickness of five of its six walls. Thus,in the collapsed condition, many such containers can be stored in the volume required for one of the containers of the noncollapsible variety.

In addition to its ability to be collapsed, the container of the present invention is a strong, weathertight, reusable enclosure which can be built to any dimensions and which is able to bear a substantial load, including that of its contents and that of other filled containers resting upon it. It is therefore well adapted for the packaging of ship-bound freight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the erected container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container partially collapsed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container with the end walls in folded position.

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken along Plane 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view 1, along Plane 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken along Plane 6-6 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a detailed elevational view of the adjustable hinge.

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view of that hinge taken along Plane 8-8 in' FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The illustrated embodiment of the invention is constructed of lightweight reinforced panels frame with extruded members. These framed panels are connected together by articulated joints and interlocking members to form the collapsible rectangular container 10 illustrated in FIGS. l-3, wherein numeral 13 designates two rigid walls, an upper one 13A and a lower one 138, numeral 14 designates two hinged end walls, and numerals l1 and 12 designate end walls of container l0.

to bring them directly between rigid walls 13A and 138, as in{ FIG. 2. Then the end walls 11 and 12 are downwardly foldedl to effect complete collapse of the container 10, as in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 7 and 3 it can be seen that end walls 11 and 12 are connected at their lower edges to bottom wall 138 by an adjustable end wall hinge 40. In addition to allowing the end' walls 11 and 12 to rotate on a pivot 44 toward the bottom wall 133 from a perpendicular, erected position, the hinge 40 is adapted to move the axis of that pivotal motion and the end wall itself toward or away from wall 13B. By the rotation of a jack screw 42 relative to jack nut 43, a pivot pin 44 carried by the jack nut 43 is moved in relation to a jack screw carrier 41 fixed to wall 138. This effects lateral movement of the end wall 11 or 12 which is carried by two such pivot pins 44.

As shown in FIG; 5, confronting blocks 34 on the lower ends of the end walls 11 and 12 abut similar confronting blocks 35 at the ends of bottom wall 138 to better distribute the load carried by the container 10 and to avoid overstressing the adjustable end wall hinges 40.

Around the sides and upper edge of each of the end walls 11 and 12 there extends a channel groove 32, the function of which will be described later.

The entry way 20 in the end wall 11 comprises a frame 46 and two entry doors 21 hung on hinges 24. Conventional door latches 22 are provided with the latch handles and operating shafts 23.

Each hinged wall 14, as illustrated in cross section in FIG. 6, is articulated at its upper edge by a top hinge 16, at its center by a wall hinge 17, and at its lower edge by a bottom hinge 18. Tile wall hinge 17 is so constructed as to divert any water seepage directed at this joint. The upper and lower edges of the walls 14 are also sealed against liquid penetration.

THe unhinged edges of sidewalls 14 are fitted with tongue elements 31 which interlock with the channel grooves 32 of the end walls 11 and 12 (FIG. 5). These interlocking tongue and groove members maintain the container 10 in its erected condition during use. The channel grooves 32 additionally serve as gutters to conduct away any water seepage tending to penetrate the joints.

Along those edges of the walls 13A and 138 which are connected to walls 14 by either top and bottom hinges 16 or 18, other tongue elements 31 are disposed to engage within other channel grooves 32 of end walls 11 and 12. These interlocking tongue and groove members serve the identical purposes as those which are in association between the walls 14 and the end walls 11 and 12.

On the upper rigid wall 13A, four pivotable roof hangers 37 are provided inside the container, one near each corner. Hangers 37 are connected to turnbuckles 38 which are connected at their other ends to the upper corners of the end walls 11 and 12. This connection means comprising hangers 37 and turnbuckles 38 maintains tongue elements 31 within grooves 32 in the upright condition of the container. The roof hangers 37 are constructed so as to pivot flush with the inner surface of wall 13A when the container is collapsed.

To erect the container from its collapsed condition, end walls 11 and 12 are first pivotally moved to an upright position. The jack screw 42 of each of the four adjustable end wall hinges 40 is then rotated to move the end walls away from the remaining collapsed structure. The upper wall 13A and the hinged walls 14 attached thereto are then lifted. As the container It is externally supported in this upright condition, the jack screws 42 are rotated to move the end walls inwardly to bring the tongue elements 31 of wall 13A and walls 14 into engagement with the channel grooves 32 of the end walls Ill and 12. The turnbuckles 38 are then fastened to the roof hangers 37 and are tightened to secure the upper portions of the interlocking means 31 and 32 in mutual engagement.

The collapse of the container is effected by a reversed sequence of steps. The wall 13A is externally supported from above, as by a hoist, cable and hook means, not shown. The turnbuckles 38 are then loosened and unfastened from the roof hangers 37. The jack screws 42 of the adjustable hinges 40 are then rotated to move the end walls 11 and i2 outwardly. The walls 13A and 14 are then lowered and the end walls 1 1. and 12 folded downwardly to complete the operation.

I claim:

1. A collapsible container comprising first, second and third pairs of opposed walls, the walls of said second pair having hinge connections with the walls of said first pair and being formed of a plurality of hinge-connected sections substantially equal as to dimensions adapted to be folded together in superposed relation when said container is in a collapsed condition whereby the walls of said first pair may be disposed in substantially parallel and relatively ciosely space relation to each other with said folded-together sections of the walls of said second pair being disposed between said closely spaced walls of said first pair, the walls of said third pair having hinge connections with one of the walls of said first pair, whereby the walls of said third pair may be pivoted into substantially parallel relation to the walls of said first pair and superposed with respect thereto when said container in a collapsed condition, and means to releasably lock some of said walls to maintain said container in an upright or noncollapsed condition, said releasable locking means including tongue and groove members adapted to be interconnected relation between the walls of said third pair and the walls of said second pair between the walis of said third pair and the other of the walls of said first pair, said releasable locking means further including means to retain said tongue and groove members in interconnected relation.

2. The container of claim 1, said lastrnentioned means comprising adjustable hinge connections between the walls of said third pair and said one of the walls of said first pair enabling said third pair walls and their pivotal axes of their hinge connections with said one wall to be moved away from said one wall and thereby enabling said third pair walls to be moved toward parallel and superposed relation with the walls of said first pair, said last-mentioned means further comprising fastening means releasably interconnecting said third pair walls with said other of the walls of said first pair.

3. A collapsibie container comprising first, second and third pairs of opposed walls, the walls of said first pair comprising an upper wall and a lower wall and the walls of said second pair having hinged connections with the walls of said first pair and being formed of a plurality of hinge-connected sections adapted to be folded together in superposed relation whereby said walls of said first pair may be disposed in substantially parallel and relatively closely spaced relation to each other with said folded hinge-connected wall sections of said second pair being positioned therebetween, each of said walls of said third pair being hingedly connected to said lower wall by hinge means so that said third pair walls may be selectively pivoted into substantially parallel superposed relation or substantially perpendicular relation to all the walls of said first and second pairs when said first pair walls are in substantially parallel relatively closely spaced relation, the axes of said hinge means connecting each of said walls of said third pair to said lower wall being disposed inwardly of but adjacent to the outer ends of said lower wall whereby said container will be of lesser length when said third pair walls are in said substantially parallel superposed relation and said container is fully collapsed than when said third pair walls are in said substantially perpendicular relation and said container is partially collapsed, said container being of the same width whether said third pair walls are in superposed relation or in said perpendicular relation whereby a plurality of fully collapsed containers may be accommodated within a single partially collapsed container between the third pair of walls thereof, and adjustment means for selectively shifting the axes of said hinge means toward and away from each other whereby said third pair walls may be moved relative to one another. 

1. A collapsible container comprising first, second and third pairs of opposed walls, the walls of said second pair having hinge connections with the walls of said first pair and being formed of a plurality of hinge-connected sections substantially equal as to dimensions adapted to be folded together in superposed relation when said container is in a collapsed condition whereby the walls of said first pair may be disposed in substantially parallel and relatively closely space relation to each other with said folded-together sections of the walls of said second pair being disposed between said closely spaced walls of said first pair, the walls of said third pair having hinge connections with one of the walls of said first pair, whereby the walls of said third pair may be pivoted into substantially parallel relation to the walls of said first pair and superposed with respect thereto when said container is in a collapsed condition, and means to releasably lock some of said walls to maintain said container in an upright or noncollapsed condition, said releasable locking means including tongue and groove members adapted to be interconnected relation between the walls of said third pair and the walls of said second pair between the walls of said third pair and the other of the walls of said first pair, said releasable locking means further including means to retain said tongue and groove members in interconnected relation.
 2. The container of claim 1, said last-mentioned means comprising adjustable hinge connections between the walls of said third pair and said one of the walls of said first pair enabling said third pair walls and their pivotal axes of their hinge connections with said one wall to be moved away from said one wall and thereby enabling said third pair walls to be moved toward parallel and superposed relation with the walls of said first pair, said last-mentioned means further comprising fastening means releasably interconnecting said third pair walls with said other of the walls of said first pair.
 3. A collapsible container comprising first, second and third pairs of opposed walls, the walls of said first pair comprising an upper wall and a lower wall and the walls of said second pair having hinged connections with the walls of said first pair and being formed of a plurality of hinge-connected sections adapted to be folded together in superposed relation whereby said walls of said first pair may be disposed in substantially parallel and relatively closely spaced relation to each other with said folded hinge-connected wall sections of said second pair being positioned therebetween, each of said walls of said third pair being hingedly connected to said lower wall by hinge means so that said third pair walls may be selectively pivoted into substantially parallel superposed relation or substantially perpendicular relation to all the walls of said first and second pairs when said first pair Walls are in substantially parallel relatively closely spaced relation, the axes of said hinge means connecting each of said walls of said third pair to said lower wall being disposed inwardly of but adjacent to the outer ends of said lower wall whereby said container will be of lesser length when said third pair walls are in said substantially parallel superposed relation and said container is fully collapsed than when said third pair walls are in said substantially perpendicular relation and said container is partially collapsed, said container being of the same width whether said third pair walls are in superposed relation or in said perpendicular relation whereby a plurality of fully collapsed containers may be accommodated within a single partially collapsed container between the third pair of walls thereof, and adjustment means for selectively shifting the axes of said hinge means toward and away from each other whereby said third pair walls may be moved relative to one another. 